The victims, who have joined the criminal trial as civil parties, asked for damages in the symbolic amount of 680 euros (798 dollars) each.

"This amount is not in proportion with what the victims suffered and should be considered as symbolic, but it is very important," said Liesbeth Zegveld, a lawyer for the victims.

"The victims present today in this court suffered injuries, they were affected and want compensation... their injuries are a direct consequence of the atrocities committed by the regime of Saddam Hussein and can be considered collateral damage," she told the court.

The Dutch court in The Hague is also expected Monday to hear statements from the victims about how the attacks affected their lives

Van Anraat, 63, is accused of aiding genocide and war crimes for supplying key ingredients for the production of nerve gas to Iraq between 1984 and 1988.

Prosecutors say nerve gas produced with the chemicals van Anraat sold to Iraq were used in several massacres of Kurds in Iran and Iraq.

He is the first person to appear in court on genocide charges over the 1988 poison gas attacks on the Kurdish town of Halabja in northern Iraq.

The massacre, which killed more than 5,000 people in a single day, also features among the preliminary charges against the former Iraqi dictator, who is currently on trial in Baghdad.

Van Anraat has admitted to selling the chemical components to Iraq, but maintains that he was not aware of the use to which they were put.

The trial is in its final week, with a verdict expected on December 23.